Center for Excellence in EducationTeacher Enrichment Program

Teacher Roundtable

Sharon WebbEinstein Fellow

Fairfax Station, VASeptember 25, 2013

Background

• Attended Robert E. Lee High School• B.A. Mathematics, M.Ed., Mathematics

Education, University of Virginia• Taught at West Springfield High School, Park

Mains High School (Erskine, Scotland)• Math/Computer Science Teacher at TJHSST

Awards/Recognition• National Board Certification – 2000, renewed in

2009• Highly Qualified rating, NASA’s search for Educator

Astronauts• NEAT – Network of Educator Astronauts• Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow• Coach, US Department of Energy National Science

Bowl champion teams (4 years)• NCSSSMST Board Member• AP Calculus Reader• Fulbright Exchange Teacher

Opportunities as an Einstein Fellow

• National Science Bowl support• Celebrating Women in STEM• Noche de Ciencias, USPTO• Family Engineering Night, Newington Forest

Elementary School• Fairfax County Public Schools Science Teachers In-

Service Presentation• Virginia STEAM Academy. Teaching and Learning

Standards-Setting Panel• Intel Science Talent Search Teacher Panel

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• NASA Kennedy Space Center• National Radio Astronomy Observatory• US Chamber of Commerce Education and Workforce• Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics • USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies• NSF Distinguished Lecture Series• Discovery Education• National Academy of Sciences• NIST

STEM Teaching Strategies• National Science Bowl Coach• NCSSSMST – Student Research Conferences• Student Leadership• Inquiry Learning• Informal Science Education Programs

“NSTA recognizes the critical role that informal science learning opportunities provide preK–12 students. Informal settings create opportunities for students and others to develop interest, readiness, and capacities to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning in school and beyond. ”

FULBRIGHT TEACHER EXCHANGE PROGRAM

• The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program

• The Fulbright Classroom Teacher Exchange Program (Newsflash – Exchange program only canceled for 2014)

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS

• Educators exchange teaching positions with a teacher from another country for one semester or academic year.

• Fulbright Teachers improve their understanding of another culture and education system.

• Participants expand the global perspectives of students and colleagues in their home and host communities

• Teachers positively impact the quality of classroom instruction.

MY YEAR IN SCOTLAND

PARK MAINS HIGH SCHOOL

• Erskine, Scotland (near Glasgow)• Secondary Comprehensive School• Taught sections of 7th – 11th grade math• All courses featured spiraled curriculum (e.g.,

mixtures of trig, geometry, algebra, …)• Timetable was different each day

SOME DIFFERENCES

• No clubs/afterschool activities (has changed)• Focus was preparation for Standard and

Higher external exams• No “GPA’s”• Very limited parent contact (conferences,

phone calls, etc.)• More preps (different classes/subjects)

OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

• Travel• Speaking opportunities (National Scottish

Computer Science Education Working Group)• Exchange Teachers’ activities• Informal Ambassador Roles

BENEFITS /EXPERIENCES

• Lifelong friends• Opportunity to represent the US abroad• Mutual sharing of curriculum and pedagogy • Adventure

• Press/Scottish Justice System• Shakespeare – London - Royal Family –Theater

- Lake District – Castles – Edinburgh – Loch Lomond

• Recharging life and teaching

The Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program

2014 - 2015PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

• Chile• Finland• India• Israel• Mexico• Morocco• Singapore

ELIGIBILITY

• Be a U.S. citizen• Be fluent in English• Hold at a Master's degree (or be currently

enrolled in a Master’s program)• Have a current full-time professional teaching

assignment in the U.S. or in a U.S. territory• Have taught for at least five years

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Professional qualifications• Motivation for the classroom exchange

program• Seriousness of purpose• Adaptability• Commitment to the program as evidenced in

their written applications and their performance in the phone interviews

PROGRAM COMPONENTSGrantees will:

• Enroll in up to two advanced undergraduate or graduate level classes at a host university or teacher training institution abroad.

• Observe classes, team-teach and/or conduct seminars or workshops in local schools for host country teachers and students

• Design and complete a capstone project• Participate in a web-based collaborative project with other

participants to share best practices of host country educational systems

• Engage in other teaching related activities.

Thank you!

Sharon Webbswebb@einsteinfellow.trianglecoaltion.org